New Anthology Celebrates 30 Years of the Lusophone Community
The Camões – Portuguese Cultural Center in Maputo has marked the 30th anniversary of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) with the launch of a new literary anthology titled As casas ainda respiram (The houses still breathe). Featuring 15 authors from across the nine member states, the collection serves as a vibrant celebration of the linguistic and cultural diversity that defines the Lusophone world.
The 170-page work brings together a multi-faceted array of poems, short stories, and novel excerpts. Contributing writers hail from Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Príncipe, and Timor-Leste, weaving together a tapestry of voices intended to strengthen the cultural dialogue between these nations.
A Language Belonging to Those Who Speak It
“The Portuguese language is the root and main foundation of the CPLP,” said José Manuel Amaral, director of the Camões Institute, during the book’s presentation on July 21. “The CPLP must be valued, maintained, and deepened. This collection shows that the language has different colors and expressions. It is a very rich language in motion; it belongs to no one—it belongs to those who speak it.”
The project is a collaborative effort between the Camões Institute and the Catalogus platform. Most of the texts included were previously published but have been curated specifically to honor three decades of diplomatic and cultural cooperation since the CPLP was founded in Lisbon on July 17, 1996.
Breaking Down Borders Through Literature
Mário Tinga, co-founder of Catalogus, highlighted the anthology’s role in overcoming the geographical and logistical barriers that often isolate Lusophone writers. “We speak the same language, but we rarely have initiatives that cross these countries,” Tinga noted. “This is a meaningful starting point to amplify the different voices of those who write in Portuguese.”
Mozambican author Virgília Ferrão, whose work appears in the collection, emphasized the practical value for readers. In a region where international book distribution remains a significant challenge, she noted that the anthology provides a rare opportunity to discover peers from across the ocean and the continent.
“This collection allows us to get to know authors whom, under normal conditions, we would have far fewer opportunities to encounter,” Ferrão said.
As the CPLP enters its fourth decade, As casas ainda respiram stands as a testament to the organization’s mission of promoting the Portuguese language as a shared heritage that adapts and evolves within each of its nine member states.
Image: Pexels – Marina Leonova
